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Haggard Farm Development Prompts Controversy

PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) – A Plano development project unlike any other is an unwelcome plan for many residents who live nearby the proposed 280 acre site.

Developers want to build a 20-story condo on Haggard Farm’s land. The farm was built more than a century ago.

It’s prime property to say the least.

The rezoning request for the project includes an option for a helicopter-landing site, which residents don’t want.

“The noise from that can be not just disturbing but dangerous to our ears,” said homeowner Steve Lavine.

“We are not planning a helistop and to the best of my knowledge the Haggards are not planning any helistop,” said Visions5 developer, John Richardson.

Overcrowded schools are also of concern to some parents, such as Beth Carruth.

“They’re already at capacity now and to add 5000 apartments I don’t know where they are going to put the kids,” said Carruth.

A grass roots campaign by West Plano residents to fight rezoning involves what they want built on the farm’s land.

Homeowners warn that developers want to put up to 6000 apartments, which could add 15,000 people to the neighborhood.

That’s about the size of the entire town of Sulphur Springs.

“That’s a lot of people on one teeny piece of land that’s ridiculous!’

Developers however, deny that they will build that many apartments. But residents argue that plans for an urban village similar to the nearby Shops at Legacy puts restaurants and bars too close to their homes.

Homeowners have already gathered 1,000 signatures on a petition demanding a better plan.

Plano’s planning and zoning commission will discuss the issue during its meeting next week.